Suspected Kansas City bank robber caught in Boone County

State troopers caught a Kansas City robbery suspect in Boone County Thursday. James Yokum, 43, has been charged with robbing the First Federal Bank on Tuesday.

According to the Highway Patrol, Yokum came from St. Louis to Kansas City to stay with his half-brother while rehabilitating from a drug addiction. During an argument, Yokum allegedly told his family he was going to rob a bank and that it would make the news.

When the half-brother later saw police cars at the bank, he told authorities about Yokum’s comments. Troopers caught Yokum on I-70 in Boone County and said he admitted to robbing the bank. He told them he planned to buy as much heroin as he could and overdose to kill himself. Troopers say much of the money from the bank was recovered from Yokum’s vehicle.

According to Yokum’s half-brother, Yokum had participated in a group that robbed a number of Kansas City credit unions in 2002. The group stole around $4 million in that robbery spree.